How to make super easy guest soaps

Guest soaps are expensive, and regular bars of soap aren't very pretty. Here's a really easy way to make guest soaps on a budget. Regular guest soaps also don't look very nice after they've been used a few times.

You will need:

• Soap
• a sharp knife
• demitasse cup

The soap I used is a locally made soap. A lot of times soapmakers will sell "end cuts" which are cuts that aren't as pretty. The ones used were round. So to start, I cut them half. End cuts will usually include several kinds of soap in different colors which look wonderful together. 

Then it's just as easy as slicing off thin pieces. I liked my ceramic knife for this because it's the sharpest knife I have. You don't want them so thin they curl, but you do want them small. I found that cutting straight through with a sharp knife was neatest for the soap I used. That means putting the knife on top of the soap and pushing it through, with harder soaps, slicing might easier.

This is what the looked like after they were all cut. The ends that weren't sliced are going to be used in the kitchen for hand washing by my family.

Arrange them in a demitasse cup or a tea cup for an extra bit of fun.

If you're using regular rectangle bars of soap, you can cut them in half lengthwise, then make little squarish shapes and pile them on a dessert plate. This will also work beautifully with glycerin soaps.

I like the Kleenex Hand Towels for guests because it's a nice clean option instead of shared guest towels. The box can be stood up so the towels come out of the top or laid down as shown in the photo above. They also can be decorated easily with paper or even just wrapped in an embroidered cloth hand towel to fit your decorating scheme.

Join the 14 million people who have already joined the Clean Hands campaign by using Kleenex Hand Towels, and click here for savings and more! 
 I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of Clever Girls Collective.

Book Review- On A Stick!

My first review of 2012!

On A Stick! 80 Party-Perfect Recipes by Matt Armendariz is a themed cookbook built around the idea of foods on a stick. Think more fair type mini-meals on a stick than tiny little appetizers on picks. These foods are fun and not at all fussy.

When I get a new cookbook, my daughter and I both go through it with sticky notes marking which recipes we want to try out first. This one looks like it's exploded with sticky notes.

I started with the deep fried mushroom recipe because it's a family favorite. The mushroom recipe is simple and tasty and  it's paired with a roasted onion dip that's super flavorful and rich. The dip is one that I plan to make for a lot more things.

She wants to make the fried mac and cheese or the really cute take on Scotch eggs next, and I'm eagerly looking forward to warmer weather to try some of the grilled recipes.

A lot of the recipes in here are fried, but there is also a lot of selection for people who prefer not to eat fried foods. The Caprese Sticks are a fun way to serve a reconstructed version of the popular salad, and the beef teriyaki skewers have a not-too-sweet teriyaki sauce and are grilled for smoky flavor.

Lots of meat skewer recipes for people who want something heartier, as well as seafood recipes. Since my family is pretty crazy about seafood and Alaskan cod is very inexpensive in Alaska, the beer battered fish and chips are a meal I could see having at least once a month. I plan to make that later this week for dinner. (Using Alaskan grown potatoes and Alaskan brewed beer for a locally sourced meal!)

You could quite literally serve dinner all on a stick to guests with the recipes in here. Starting with appetizers and salads, a main course and side dish, dessert and even an after dinner cocktail.

The recipes that should have dips have recipes for dips and all the recipes are clear with ingredients on a side bar to the instructions for making them. They are well-photographed as well if you like to see photos of how the finished product should look.

It's a cookbook for people who like fun food that's well prepared with attention to detail but that's still easy to make and present. There are lots of Asian inspired and influenced recipes along side Western favorites which make it a great cookbook for people with a wide range of tastes.

Not recommended for vegans since so many of the recipes call for meat or dairy products. There are some good vegetarian recipes in here though.

Published by Quirk Books

My reviews are always my personal and honest opinion. You can read more about my review policy here.

Book Review- Craft-In

Craft-In : 12 Project Booklets for Your Own Crafty Gatherings is a collection of ideas for crafting parties. The projects range from very easy for people who very new to crafting to projects that will be easier either split into a couple nights or for more experienced crafters. The booklets are full color and housed in a nice slip case.

I think it rocks. Really, if you have non-crafty friends who are interested in making things, this provides a great starting point for a party of you and a half dozen of your friends. If you have crafty friends and would like to have a themed party, again, great ideas ready to go.

Each booklet is by a different artist/author. They explain how to make the project pictured in detail. Paper projects include pages you can copy and use for your guests. They tell you what supplies you'll need, approximate level of skill needed, and the time needed for the projects.

I suggest if your hosting a party, you read all the way through the booklet you choose first. You might decide to make up an example ahead of time so you can help your guests and share out the booklet. Since the sets are fairly inexpensive though, you could also buy a couple extra sets.

Great Cupcake Makeover by Jodi Rhoden has two cupcake recipes and two icing recipes. The chocolate recipe is vegan! It has lots of ideas for how to decorate the cupcakes. It explains how to ice a cupcake to look professional and has suggestions for natural sprinkles and garnish ideas, natural food coloring ideas, and how to sugar fruits and flowers. Since some of the decorations are flags for cupcakes, they seem a natural for paper artists.

All The Hoopla by MelMac Pink has full instructions for making your own hoops. This is absolute win for a summer party, especially for tween and teens. It takes about an hour and half to make the hoop and it's fairly simple. Then hours of enjoyment learning how to use it.

Crochet Cactus by Katy Yellen is one I really suggest at least one person who knows how to crochet. The pattern and instructions makes a very cute cactus with a button center flower that's set in a store-bought clay pot. There are full illustrated instructions in the booklet on how to crochet, so if you want to teach yourself ahead of time, you can. It's full of cute!

Jar Lid Masterpieces by Julie Armbruster is a very simple idea that would be just a lot of fun with a group and it's an idea that works for adults or younger people. It's playful paintings based off a scribble of ink that fit in a Mason jar type lid.

Stupid Sock Creature Social by John Murphy can be done using either a sewing machine or by hand. This project includes some soft sculpture to create a mouth which adds character to the toy. A nice collection of buttons, and lots of orphan socks would make very unique dolls with lots of personality.

Culture Club Pocketbook Logs by Alli Good starts with store bought notebooks that you can create lists in with art and ideas to start. I love this as a collage project and a way to enjoy suggestions from friends.

Retro Paper Doll Party by Suzie Millions combines scraps of fabric, paper, buttons, beads and embellishments with vintage images of heads to create cute little works of art. Easy and just a lot of fun.

Little Ireland: Awesome, Mossy Terrarium by Maura Okuley is both creating simple terrariums and beginning needle felting for the ambitious. Rolling hills of green are the pasture for a tiny felted sheep. If you're not feeling ambitious enough to felt, provide guests with the supplies and moss for the terrarium and a selection of miniature plastic animals. Include tips on how to find live moss for terrarium and how to keep just wet enough to grow.

Strawberry Fields Forever by Jeanette Lim is little hand sewn felt strawberries, with a variation for chocolate dipped. It also has a sushi recipe to serve your guests.

Shrinkable Adornment by Alisa Wagner Poage made me think about my friend Katie immediately with it's wing necklace. Shrink art has come a long way since I was a kid!

Mint Tin Fairy World by Debrina Pratt is a great reason to have a "potluck" style crafting evening. Tell your friends the theme, and ask them to bring buttons, scraps of lace, favorite papers and other ephemera. You supply mint tins, paint and wings and vintage images.

Pet Portrait Embroidery by Cindy Steiler uses simple embroidery techniques and can absolutely be done with beginners. If you don't want to do pets, you could substitute other simple line art or even children's art.

These are just great ideas for a craft party in one easy package.

You can get this set from the publisher, Lark Crafts My reviews are always my personal and honest opinion. You can read more about my review policy here.